Pope Leo Recovering After Lung Cancer Surgery
Pope Leo XIV is recovering in a Rome hospital after surgery to remove the lower lobe of his right lung revealed lung cancer, the Vatican said Wednesday. The 71-year-old pontiff has begun walking in his room and eating normally. Blood tests and a chest X-ray showed expected postoperative results, and he has received respiratory physiotherapy.
Doctors identified the cancer as lung adenocarcinoma. Surgeon Stefano Margaritora and Leo’s personal physician, Luigi Carbone, said the roughly 90-minute operation on Tuesday was completed without complications. The Vatican has not reported the tumour’s size or whether cancer reached nearby lymph nodes, information important to assessing his prognosis. A lung cancer specialist who was not involved in his care said surgery could be sufficient if the disease has not spread to those nodes.
The Vatican expects Leo to remain hospitalized for about a week and has cancelled his public engagements through October 20. Its press office said plans for a November 6–17 trip to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru had not changed. Peruvian President Keiko Fujimori, however, said the dates might need to shift depending on his recovery.
Leo, elected in May 2025, leads the Catholic Church’s approximately 1.4 billion members. The pope has no deputy who assumes his authority during an illness. Routine Vatican work can continue, but decisions requiring papal approval must wait if he is unable to make them.
At a Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday, worshippers prayed for Leo’s recovery. Cardinal Luis Tagle led the service in the pope’s place. The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops also offered prayers and thanked his medical team. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump expressed wishes for his recovery. The Vatican has not announced whether Leo will need additional cancer treatment or when he will return to his regular schedule.